The new Mercedes-Benz
SLK Roadster

With the completely
newly developed SLK, one of the most exciting and successful sports cars
ever built is entering its third generation. The new roadster uncompromisingly
takes driving pleasure and open-air enjoyment to a new level.

It blends light-footed sportiness with stylish comfort,
a striking sports-car design with total suitability for everyday use, top
performance with exemplary ecology. Whats more, the SLK is proud to
present the world premiere of the panoramic vario-roof with MAGIC SKY CONTROL,
which switches to light or dark at the touch of a button. Exemplary efficiency
and sporty flair come courtesy of powerful new 4- and 6-cylinder engines
featuring the standard-specification ECO start/stop function. With their
superb levels of performance, they are up to 25 percent more economical than
their predecessors. With a unique set of safety equipment and a wealth of
technical innovations, the SLK is once again the benchmark in its class.
"The new SLK embodies the role of the trend-setter
like no other car", says Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of
Management of Daimler AG and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Cars. "I am convinced that
with its passionate design, its high-quality interior and its modesty at
the filling station it will continue to provide an enormous amount of fun
on the road in future, too, consolidating its status as a cult
roadster."

Innovations are part of the successful history
of the Mercedes-Benz SLK:

In 1996 the first generation caused a sensation with the vario-roof, which
transformed the wide-open roadster into a coupé with a fixed roof
at the touch of a button in just a few seconds;

the second generation placed the warm AIRSCARF around the neck and shoulders
of the occupants as needed, ensuring pleasurable
open-top motoring even in cooler temperatures;

now the third generation is presenting one of its unique highlights 
the world premiere of the panoramic vario-roof with MAGIC SKY CONTROL. It
can be quickly switched to light or dark at the touch
of a button

But the new Mercedes-Benz SLK offers more than merely individual highlights.
It assumes a leading position in every discipline and offers fun at the wheel
in every respect, with no half-hearted compromises. It impresses with
characteristics which are generally deemed to be irreconcilable: it succeeds
in uniting excellent comfort and high-quality equipment and appointments
with a decidedly sporty flair, for instance. At the same time the new roadster
is the most economical and thus the most environmentally friendly in its
class, also setting new safety standards. And all-weather driving enjoyment
 open and closed, in leisure-time and everyday use  is firmly
anchored in the SLKs genes.

A distinctive design creates a sporty
presence

The designers have tailor-made an outfit for the
new SLK which emphasises its classic roadster proportions and puts them in
the spotlight to thrilling effect. Behind the long bonnet is a compact passenger
compartment positioned far back, and a short tail end. The SLK will tempt
potential customers with the key attributes that characterise all the classic
roadsters from Mercedes-Benz and that have also made many of them automotive
icons. The first feature to catch the eye is an upright radiator grille that
stands proud and confident in the wind. It facilitates the long and
well-proportioned bonnet and with its rearward light-catching contours it
already hints at the roadsters dynamic qualities. The wide radiator
grille bears the Mercedes-Benz star in a prominent central position and displays
a powerfully contoured fin, chromed at the front. The clearly defined headlamps
complete the look for the new SLKs face, which resembles that of the
legendary 190 SL from the 1950s, which is regarded by many as being the original
"SLK". But it was certainly not just the past that the designers were focusing
on; with the new SLKs front end they also intentionally created a close
visual link with the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG "gull-wing model" and
the new CLS. The amazing and measurable proof of the meticulously detailed
work that has been carried out is that in spite of the more striking, steeper
front and the larger frontal area, the Cd value has been cut to just 0.30
 a brilliant achievement (the preceding models Cd value was 0.32).
The closed, elegant shape of the side view with the classic roadster proportions
quickens the pulse and is a visual promise of the sportiness and driving
pleasure in store. Fine details show the care that has been taken by the
Mercedes-Benz designers. For example, a fillet conceals the boot joint, so
that
it does not disturb the side aspect as with similar roof designs. The ventilation
grilles in the front wings with a chromed fin are reminiscent of the famous
Mercedes-Benz roadsters of the 1950s. In the new SLK they form the perfect
starting point for a feature line which flows to the muscular rear wing,
using light and shadow to add style and elegance to the sides. Meanwhile
the upper edge of the wide headlamps  which boast all-LED technology
for the first time  also appears to flow into the feature line.

Interior with style and a feel-good
atmosphere

With the most compact dimensions in its class, the
new SLK has an interior whose generous size is exemplary. To achieve this,
the designers have developed interior appointments which offer the driver
and passenger a real feel-good ambience. The interior is characterised by
sporty refinement, well-thought-out ergonomics and high-quality, authentic
materials which have been processed with painstaking attention to detail
and skilled craftsmanship. Even in the base version the centre console and
other trim parts gleam in brushed aluminium. Wood can be selected as an option
in high-gloss dark brown walnut or high-gloss black ash. Four round, galvanised
air outlets integrated in the dashboard emphasise that this model well and
truly belongs to the Mercedes-Benz sports car family, their shape being derived
from those in the SLS. The SLKs generous dial instruments are flanked
by a display for the information generated by the online computer. The colour
display for the communications and entertainment functions is housed in the
centre of the dashboard, and can be easily read by both the driver and passenger.
On the top of the dashboard, also in the centre, sits a fine analogue clock
 an unusual detail which subtly underlines the roadsters stylish
character. Other high-quality items of equipment include a multifunction
sports steering wheel with a flattened lower section and a thick leather
rim, plus optional sun-reflecting leather which noticeably reduces the degree
to which the surfaces it covers heat up, impressive ambient lighting which
for the first time has a red colour tone, and the innovative neck-level heating
system AIRSCARF familiar from the preceding model.

Unique feature: MAGIC SKY CONTROL

For the first time Mercedes-Benz is offering a choice of three variants of
the lightweight-construction vario-roof for the new SLK. In just a few seconds
this feature transforms the roadster into a coupé with a "fixed" roof
at the touch of
a button  and vice versa:

The base version is a roof painted in the vehicle colour

Alternatively there is the option of a panoramic vario-roof with tinted glass.

The third variant is a world premiere  the panoramic vario-roof with
MAGIC SKY CONTROL. This glass roof switches to light or dark as you wish
at the press of a button. When light it is virtually transparent, offering
an open-air experience even in cold weather. In its dark state the roof provides
welcome shade and prevents the interior from heating up when the suns
rays are very intense. In other words:
a feel-good atmosphere at the touch of a button

Innovative draught-stop system AIRGUIDE

A comfortable alternative to the conventional draught-stop is a new, pivoting
draught-stop for the new SLK which has been invented by Mercedes-Benz
aerodynamics engineers. It consists of pivoting, transparent perspex sections
which are attached to the reverse of the roll-over bars. The driver or passenger
can pivot them to the centre of the vehicle in a flash, thus taming turbulent
air flow. When the pivoting draught-stops are not required, they disappear
almost invisibly behind the roll-over bars. There is no awkward disassembly
and removal as with other draught-stops.

Spirit and efficiency

There will initially be three models of the SLK available at its market launch,
all of them powered by new engines with direct injection. The four-cylinder
engines in the SLK 200 BlueEFFICIENCY and SLK 250 BlueEFFICIENCY develop
135 kW (184 hp) and 150 kW (204 hp) respectively from a
displacement of 1796 cubic centimetres. The SLK 200 BlueEFFICIENCY has the
lowest CO2 emissions in its segment. With the enhanced, optional
seven-speed automatic transmission 7G-TRONIC PLUS it consumes just 6.1 litres
of premium petrol (NEDC, combined) over 100 kilometres, corresponding to
142 g of CO2 per kilometre. This sporty model sprints from 0 to
100 km/h in 7.0 seconds, and achieves a top speed of 237 km/h (240 km/h with
manual transmission). The SLK 250 BlueEFFICIENCY is initially equipped with
the 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission (a six-speed manual transmission
will become available at a later date) and consumes only 6.2 litres (NEDC,
combined) per 100 kilometres (144 g of CO2 per kilometre). From
standstill it reaches 100 km/h in 6.6 seconds, and it has a top speed of
243 km/h. The V6 engine in the SLK 350 BlueEFFICIENCY generates 225 kW
(306 hp) from its 3498 cubic-centimetre displacement, using this power to
accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds (top speed 250 km/h). Its
consumption is 7.1 litres (NEDC, combined) per 100 kilometres (167 g of
CO2 per kilometre). The V6 engine has been completely newly developed.
Its most important hallmarks are 3rd-generation direct injection,
piezo injectors and multi-spark ignition. The exemplary efficiency, with
fuel consumption reduced by up to a quarter compared to the preceding model,
is also due to the ECO start/stop system which is fitted as part of the standard
specification in all models.

Suspension for the closest connection to the
road
There are also three suspension versions to choose from:

As an alternative a Dynamic Handling package is available. This includes
an electronically controlled, fully automatic damping system. This means
that the vehicle has excellent suspension comfort even on poor road surfaces,
but still offers high driving dynamics

Also included in the Dynamic Handling package are a Direct-Steer system and
the Torque Vectoring Brakes developed by Mercedes-Benz. The Direct-Steer
system offers more handling and agility than the standard steering, whilst
also reducing the amount of physical effort required when parking. In critical
conditions the Torque Vectoring Brakes produce a defined rotational movement
of the vehicle about the vertical axis in fractions of seconds through selective
brake actuation at the rear wheel on the inside of the bend. This results
in the SLK stabilising without any compromises where dynamism is concerned,
and it steers into the bend precisely and under full control.

Ingenious material mix and high levels of
safety

The new SLKs bodyshell structure has been further refined, with the
bonnet and wings now made of aluminium. The new Mercedes-Benz SLK also sets
new benchmarks in terms of safety. The third generation of the powerful
trend-setter will make use of a whole host of the latest assistance systems
to support the driver, including the drowsiness detection system ATTENTION
ASSIST, developed by Mercedes-Benz and fitted as standard; the optional
anticipatory occupant protection system PRE-SAFE®, which is
unique in the world; and the PRE-SAFE® Brake, which can apply
the brakes autonomously in the event of an impending rear-end collision.
This means that with the SLK too, Mercedes-Benz is consistently and significantly
exceeding the requirements imposed by safety standards.

Further assistance systems are available on
request:

DISTRONIC PLUS: this proximity control system automatically maintains a set
distance from the vehicle ahead, braking the roadster to a standstill if
necessary and accelerating the SLK again.

The Intelligent Light System provides five lighting functions (cornering
light function, country mode, motorway mode, active light function and enhanced
fog lamps), which are activated depending on the driving conditions

Speed Limit Assist is able to detect speed limit signs using a camera on
the inside of the windscreen, and indicate the detected speed limit in the
instrument cluster or central display.

The market launch date for the SLK is 26 March 2011. Prices incl. 19% VAT: